Roane State Community College

Version for Print

THE
CONSTITUTION
of
The Roane State Community College
Student Government Association

Revised September 20, 2020

Table of Contents

• Purpose & Structure
• The Student Senate
• The Campus Activities Board
• The Executive Council
• Elections & Appointments
• Oath of Office
• Resignation
• Constitutional Amendments

“The importance of you, a student at Roane State, having a say in what the college says and places upon you is paramount. With a constitution that allows for the SGA to grow, it is a stepping stone for that vision to be actualized.”
— Fmr. President Katie Law

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE & STRUCTURE

SECTION I.

1. Preamble. We, the Student Body, establish this constitution for the Student Government Association of Roane State Community College. This constitution shall provide the Student Body with an effective means of democratic self-government, which shall be consistent with the policies of the college and Tennessee Board of Regents. The SGA, through the deliberative efforts of its members, shall promote cooperation, understanding, and courtesy between the students and college administration to solve issues pertaining to the general interests and prosperity of both parties.
2. Membership. Each student registering in college-credit at Roane State Community College shall be considered a member of the Student Body and shall enjoy all rights granted by this constitution. The Student Body is subject to this constitution and other official actions of the SGA, and are entitled to the privileges of expression and representation defined herein.
3. Structure. The Student Senate, Campus Activities Board (CAB), and Executive Council shall make up the branches of the Student Government Association.
   1. The Student Senate is comprised of 12 at-large senators representing every student.
   2. Campus Activities Boards shall consist of 2 to 5 members appointed by Student Engagement Coordinators and Campus Directors.
   3. The Executive Council is formed by the President, Vice President, and any undersecretaries appointed by the President.
   4. There shall also be a faculty member serving in the role of SGA Coordinator as a representative of the College in the affairs of the Student Government.

ARTICLE II
The Student Senate

SECTION I.

1. Function. It shall be the responsibility of the Student Senate to advocate for student concerns throughout the college. The Senate’s primary function is to pass legislation that betters the Student Body’s experience at Roane State
2. Requirements. Senators must maintain an enrollment of at least three credit hours at the college with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. If senators fail to meet these requirements, they shall be expelled from office.

SECTION II.

1. Powers. The Senate shall be entrusted with the following powers:
   1. To enact and repeal legislation.
   2. To approve SGA budgets and their amendments.
   3. To create or dismantle Senate Committees.
   4. To confirm or deny presidential appointments.
   5. To override presidential vetoes through a two-thirds majority.
   6. To impeach SGA officials who violate their oath of office or fail to execute office
   7. The Senate may create legislation that assists in the carrying out of the powers and duties listed herein.
2. Duties. Legislative duties of the Senate are as follows:
   1. The Senate shall elect, from its membership, a Speaker Pro-Tempore who shall preside over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President of the SGA. The Speaker Pro-Tempore shall also assume the presidency in the event that the Vice President is unable to fill such a vacancy.
   2. The Senate shall also elect, from its membership, the SGA Secretary, who is to be entrusted with recording and collecting accurate minutes for the SGA.
   3. The Senate is tasked with determining legislative business for each meeting.
   4. The Senate shall establish operating rules for its body.

SECTION III.

1. Secretary. The SGA Secretary shall fulfill the following duties:
   1. To record the minutes of SGA meetings.
   2. To keep and maintain accurate records of the SGA and its Committees.
   3. To send and receive official correspondence for the SGA.
   4. To provide notifications of SGA business to the SGA Coordinator.

SECTION IV.

1. Impeachment. Votes of impeachment shall only pass if they receive a two-thirds majority. The President of the SGA shall select an appointee to fill the vacant office, subject to approval from the Senate, and only if the office is not appointed or filled by other procedures or officials herein.

ARTICLE III
The Campus Activities Board

SECTION I.

1. Function. It shall be the responsibility of the Campus Activities Board of each campus to plan and execute student life events at their campus, with the help and advisement from the Student Engagement Coordinators and proper Campus Directors.
2. Requirements. To become a member of a Campus Activities Board, one must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and be a Roane State student taking at least three credit hours each semester at the campus they wish to serve

SECTION II.

1. Membership. Members of the Campus Activities Board, consisting of 2 to 5 members, shall be appointed by the appropriate Student Engagement Coordinators and Campus Directors. Members shall serve a term at their discretion.
2. Meetings. Each Campus Activities Board shall meet at least once per semester. If a member does not attend two meetings in a row or they fail to meet the demands of their position, they will be considered for removal from the board at the judgement of the Student Engagement Coordinator and appropriate Campus Director.

ARTICLE IV
The Executive Council

SECTION I.

1. Function. The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Vice President, and undersecretaries appointed by the President with confirmation by the Student Senate. Members of the Executive Council shall be the official student representatives of Roane State. They will work closely with the college administration to advocate for Student Body concerns.
2. Requirements. Executive Council members shall be subject to the same requirements as senators and CAB members to hold office.

SECTION II.

1. President. The President shall be the acknowledged head of the Student Body in all student affairs and student relations with faculty, staff, and administration; and shall be subject to the following duties:
   1. To preside over meetings of the Executive Council.
   2. To issue executive orders and directives.
   3. To delegate power within the Executive Council.
   4. To have supervisory responsibilities over SGA finances, records, and programs.
   5. To promptly approve or veto bills passed by the Senate.
   6. To appoint SGA officials, as outlined in Art. V, Sec. I, (4).
   7. To maintain knowledge of current affairs of the college and SGA.
   8. To enter into agreements, contracts, and consultations as a representative of the SGA in accordance with college policies.
2. Vice President. The Vice President shall fulfill the following duties:
   1. To serve as acting President of the SGA in the event the current President becomes incapacitated or otherwise incapable of discharging office.
   2. To ascend to the presidency if a vacancy of the office occurs.
   3. To preside over meetings of the Senate as the Speaker of the Senate.
   4. To cast votes within the Senate only when tie votes occur.
   5. To act as a liaison between the Executive Council and the Student Senate.
3. Undersecretaries. Undersecretaries shall be appointed by the President and confirmed in a simple majority vote by the Senate. Their duties shall be defined by the SGA President, so long as they fall under the purview of authority delegated to the President herein.

ARTICLE V
Elections and Appointments

SECTION I.

1. General Elections. Every year, between the first and second Monday of April, a general election is held. The President, Vice President, and all Student Senators are to be elected during this time. Candidates may only qualify for candidacy if they meet the requirements set within this constitution for the office they wish to hold. The Student Body should be clearly notified of all elections taking place and how to cast their ballot.
2. Campaigns. Candidates are allowed to solicit votes through campaign advertisements before and during the election. Posters, media, and events that advocate for the election or defeat of candidates must follow college policy as determined by the college administration. Candidates may not campaign for two separate offices nor hold two offices simultaneously.
3. Special Elections. In the event of an office becoming vacant, the President or Senate may call to order a special election to fill vacancies within the SGA. Through an executive order by the President or a resolution by the Senate, an election date shall be selected with a ballot consisting of the vacant seats. Officials elected in a special election will serve out the remainder of their predecessor’s term.
4. Appointments. Both the SGA President and Senate shall have the power to appoint various officers within their branches. The President may appoint undersecretaries and cabinet members within the Executive Council to assist in the carrying out of executive authority. Likewise, the Senate may also appoint officers to assist the body in its deliberations. The Senate shall have sole authority to confirm appointments through simple majority votes.
5. Exclusions. Candidates may not be considered for election if they will not be attending Roane State in the following academic year. If candidates who win an election do not attend the following academic year, then the runner up who received the next most votes and who also plans to attend Roane State during their term will assume office instead.

ARTICLE VI
Oath of Office

SECTION I.

1. Oath Officials. All electees or appointees shall take an oath of office administered by any Roane State faculty member, admin, Site Director, Student Engagement Coordinator, or SGA official (both former and current) before becoming an officeholder.
2. Rights & Privileges. Once the oath is taken, the student shall assume the rights and privileges of the SGA office they have been elected or appointed to serve under.

SECTION II.

1. Oath. The oath of office to be performed shall be recited as written below:
   1. “I, [full name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) to uphold the Constitution of the Student Government Association of Roane State Community College and to faithfully execute the duties and powers of [title of office] in the best interests of the Student Body; and to always perform my actions as a Student Government official with fidelity, integrity, and respect for the Student Body.”

ARTICLE VII
Resignation

SECTION I.

1. Process. Members of the SGA who wish to resign from office must submit a formal letter of resignation to the Executive Council with copies to be distributed to the SGA Coordinator, Dean of Student Services, and any pertinent Campus Directors or Student Engagement Coordinators.
2. Vacancies Resulting from Resignations. Offices vacated by resignations shall be filled as defined herein.

ARTICLE VIII
Constitutional Amendments

SECTION I.

1. Revisability. This constitution may be amended.
2. Ratification. Amendments may be ratified in three ways:
   1. The Senate passes a constitutional amendment resolution in a two-thirds vote.
      1. Presidential vetoes on amendments can only be overridden unanimously.
   2. At least three-fifths of CABs vote to ratify an amendment.
   3. At least 100 hundred students petition to hold a referendum to add an amendment.

SECTION II.

1. TBR Reconciliation. The aforementioned amendment processes may be disregarded if an amendment seeks to reconcile this Constitution with Tennessee Board of Regents policy affecting the SGA. In which case, an executive order or simple majority vote in the Senate will suffice.